摘要：Despite the increased recognition of the beneficial role that fathers can play in the lives of their children by allowing not only married fathers, but also some unmarried fathers automatic parental responsibilities and rights, the new Children's Act has retained the status quo to the extent that it still does not confer automatic, inherent parental rights on biological fathers on the same basis as mothers. This contribution aims to ascertain whether the continued differential treatment, regarding the initial allocation of parental responsibilities and rights, can be justified in view of international trends emphasising the importance of the role of both parents in the upbringing of their children. These international trends have for the most part been inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereinafter referred to as the UNCRC) that has been ratified by all United Nations' member states, except the United States of America and Somalia. Article 9(3) of the UNCRC obliges state parties to respect the child's right to contact with both parents while Article 18(1) of the UNCRC compels state parties to apply their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing of the child.
